Hopes by opposition leaders that the electoral pact inked by DAP and PKR in Penang earlier this month would help speed up seat negotiations elsewhere are apparently being dashed.

With the clock ticking and the general election expected to be called soon, the two opposition parties are facing an intractable impasse in Perak - a key state where both DAP and PKR plan to woo its sizable non-Malay voters.

Aside from Penang, where the two opposition parties had stitched an agreement for a one-to-one fight in all seats against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, Perak is also considered a major battleground in the coming elections.

In 2004, DAP won three parliament seats (Ipoh Timur, Ipoh Barat and Batu Gajah) and seven state seats (Sitiawan, Pantai Remis, Pasir Bedamar, Menglembu, Pasir Pinji, Jelapang and Keranji). On the other hand, PKR emerged empty handed.

It is hope that with key BN components parties MCA and Gerakan facing a backlash from the Chinese Malaysian voters, DAP has set its eyes on picking up three additional parliament seats - Bruas (held by Gerakan), Taiping (PPP) and Teluk Intan (Gerakan).

But PKR, a multiracial party like DAP, is arguing that apart from running in Malay-majority areas, the party should also be given the opportunity to fight in Chinese-majority areas - seats in which DAP has traditionally contested.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, in a press statement, today expressed his disappointment in the “agonisingly slow” process of seat negotiations with its opposition ally.

He said that the process should be wrapped up by next week as the general election is expected to be called as soon as February.

‘Precious little progress’

The opposition leader added that “precious little progress” had been achieved in the other states in the past two weeks since the Penang agreement.

The deal in Penang on Jan 9 was a breakthrough as the two parties had fought it out in four seats - one parliament and three state seats - in the last general election. The resulting three-cornered contests were all won by BN.

Under the pact, DAP - which for long has aspired to rule Penang - will contest seven of the 13 parliamentary seats and 19 of the 40 state seats.

Yesterday, DAP and PKR leaders in Negri Sembilan issued a joint statement that they had reached an agreement on one-to-one fights in the state.

Nevertheless, Lim revealed that there were problems even as the Negri Sembilan pact was announced.

“The announcement was only confined to the state assembly seats although agreement had earlier been reached by both state leaderships for parliamentary and state assembly contests as well.

“However, as a result of national PKR intervention, the announcement on DAP-PKR pact in Negri Sembilan was only confined to state assembly seats leaving the parliamentary seats unsettled.”

To compound the problem, Lim accused PKR of laying claims to a number of seats in Perak which DAP is seeking to contest.

“Perak was meant to be the next state for an electoral agreement to be reached after Penang but the differences between the two state parties seem to be as wide as ever, with even the PKR national vice-president publicly reiterating PKR interest to contest in Ipoh Timur parliamentary seat.”

While Lim did not name the vice-president, he was obviously referring to Dr Lee Boon Chye, Perak PKR state chief.

It is reported that Ipoh Timur was earmarked for Lee in 2004 until an eleventh-hour intervention by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who wrote a letter from jail supporting Lim to vie for the seat.

Lim eventually wrested the seat from MCA but it is still not certain whether the opposition leader would defend his seat or fight elsewhere this time.

Cheeky solution

Lim suggested a cheeky solution to the DAP-PKR logjam in Perak.

“If Perak PKR leaders are so insistent in wanting to contest in Ipoh Timur, let there be an agreement where a three-cornered fight is allowed for Ipoh Timur involving DAP and PKR provided full agreement on a one-to-one fight against the Barisan Nasional for all other parliamentary and state assembly seats is immediately reached for Perak.”

Contacted for a response, Lee neither confirmed nor denied that PKR had “publicly” staked claimed onto the Ipoh Timur seat as claimed by Lim.

“During the negotiations, the overlapping seats that were in contention did not include Ipoh Timur,” said Lee.

Lee said he was optimistic that an electoral pact would be formed in Perak soon to ensure a straight fight between BN and the opposition.

In 2004, DAP and PKR candidates clashed in three Parliament seats (Sungai Siput, Teluk Intan and Taiping) and six state seats (Simpang Pulai, Bercham, Jelapang, Jalong, Aulong and Kuala Sepetang).

BN won all three-cornered fights except in Jelapang where DAP’s Hee Yit Foong won by a wafer-thin majority.

DAP was also involved in a three-cornered contest with former ally PAS in two state seats - Kuala Kurau and Lintang.

Running out of time

Lim stressed there was little time to lose in wrapping up the seat talks.

“If general election is held by the first weekend of March, there are only some 30 days left to fight the 12th general election.”

Lim argued that the seat negotiations should be concluded in a week’s time so that the opposition can start preparing for the elections.

Apart from Perak, both DAP and PKR are expected to also face problems in inking an electoral pact in Sarawak.

According to Lim, if a deal could not be done “then let this be decided and known instead of dragging it out indefinitely”.

Sin Chew Daily today reported that Parliament could be dissolved on Feb 14 - right smack in the middle of Chinese New Year - with nomination day on Feb 21 and polling day on either March 2 or 3.

Earlier speculations that the election could be held in mid-March has been put to rest after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that he intended to attend the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit.

Malaysia is due to hand over the OIC chairmanship at the summit in Senegal on March 13-14.